AIT launched its internationally renowned gene repository centre in 2003. The Resource Center houses more than half a million DNA samples of plant and animal origin, which are stored under high-tech conditions at minus 20°C in accordance with strict quality control standards (ISO 9001:2008). It gives scientists online access to decoded genetic material from across Europe including the corresponding scientific documentation (www.picme.at), which they can use for their own research. A large collection of plant cDNAs of agricultural as well as forestry species is available for DNA chip production on the AIT microarray platform. An online BLAST service offers the possibility to query the EST (Expressed Sequence Tags) sequence database to identify genes of interest and select them for downstream applications (custom microarray spotting, clone ordering).

In order to meet the demands of ecological research, the Resource Centre also provides reference material of controlled crosses of poplar, pine or oak as well as samples of whole populations generated in the framework of the Evoltree Network of Excellence (www.evoltree.eu). Genomic DNA (gDNA) is available for these resources. Distributed data stored on servers across Europe can be interactively searched via the eLab. AIT is responsible for the implementation and operation of this central access point. Sample owners need to give their prior consent to the disclosure of their material and related documentation for the sake of data transparency and to ensure a relationship of mutual trust with our partners.

The service is complemented by gDNA extraction from various tissues (plant: fresh/dry leaf, root, bark; animal: blood, sperm, tissue) as well as custom sample storing (BACs, gDNA) and databasing of customers’ probes.

Reference projects:

Trees for the Future
Website EVOLTREE